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CIHM/ICMH 

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Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


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i' 


./ 


V  . 


BROTHER  LAWRENCE 


UNIFORM     WITH      THIS     VOLUME     IN 

The   New  Kingship  Series 


The  Kingship  of  Self-Control 
The  Majesty  of  Calmness        • 
Breaking  the  Record  *  • 

Svan  Creek  Blizzard  • 
Bunny's  Friends     •  •  • 

Temptation        .  •  • 

Expectation  Comer  •  • 

Beyond  the  Marshes     • 
Across  the  Continent  of  the  Years 
How  the  Children  Raised  the  Wind 
How  the  Itmer  Light  Failed 
Alone  in  London  •  • 

Bonnie  Jean  ... 

Nobody  Loves  Me        .  • 

Little  King  Davie  . 
Laddie    *  . 

J.  Cole         •  . 

Christie's  Old  Organ    . 
Whiter  Than  Snow 
Miss  Toosey's  Missisn 
The  Four  Men 
Jessica's  First  Prayef 

iessica's  Mother    . 
ittleDot 


William  George  Jordan 

William  George  Jordan 

,  Ralph  Connor 

•      Ralph  Connor 

.         Amy  Le  Feuvre 

Tam«s  Stalker,  D.D. 

.    E.  S.  KUiott 

;  ,      Ralph  Connor 

Newell  Dwight  Hillis 

Sdna  Lyall 

Newell  Dwight  Hillis 

,  ,    Hesba  Stretton 

....  Annie  S.  Swan 

,  ,  .  Mrs.  O.  P.  Walton 

.....  Nellie  Hellis 

By  the  author  of  "Miss  Toosey's  Mission" 

....    Smma  Gellibrand 

.  .  .  Mrs.  O.  F.  Walton 

....     Mrs.  O.  F.  Walton 

The  author  of  "Laddie" 

...  James  Stalker,  D.D. 

....      Hesba  Stretton 

....  Hesba  Stretton 

.  Mrs.  O.  F.  Walton 


Mrs.  Ballington  Booth 

M.  %  Wilkins 

Rosa  Nouchette  Carey 

J.  R.  Miller,  D.D. 

.      R.  S.  Elliott 

Brother  Lawrence       .  The  Practice  of  the  Presence  of  God 

The  Fight  of  Faith  and  The  Cost  of  Character.Theodor  e  Cuy  ler,  D.  D. 

Mrs.  J.  H.  Walworth 

Rose  Porter 

A.  T.  Pierson,  D.D. 

,    J.  M.  Ludlow,  D.D. 

•  A.  J.  Gordon,  D.D. 

.      Henry  Drummond 

Henry  Drummond 

Author  of  "Probable  Sons" 

Eleanor  Amerman  Sutphen 


Did  the  Pardon  Come  Too  Late  ? 
Comfort  Pease  and  Her  Gold  Ring 
My  Little  Boy  Blue 
The  Dew  of  Thy  Youth 
A  Day's  Time  Table       . 


Where  Kitty  Found  Her  Soul 
One  of  the  Sweet  Old  Chapters  . 
Hope,  The  Lost  Thing  in  the  World 
The  Baritone's  Parish     . 
The  Fit^i  Thing  in  the  World 
The  Greatest  Need  of  the  World 
The  Greatest  Thing  in  the  World  . 
Eric's  Good  News 
Ye  Nexte  Thynge 


A  Missionary  Story 


By  "Pansy" 


Agatha's  Unknown  Way.  .,  ..  -^     ^ 

The  Dream  of  Youth  .  .  .  Hugh  Black,  M.A. 

The  Spirit  Guest       .      The  Story  of  a  Dream.    Josephine  Rand 
For  Christ  and  the  Church         .  .  .    Charles  M.  Sheldon 

Lend  a  Hand  .....  Charles  M.  Sheldon 

The  YoungMan  of  Yesterday  .  .  .    Judge  A.  W.  Tenny 

One  of  the  Two         ....         Charles  M.  Sheldon 
What  th»  Wind  Did  ?      .  .  .  .  Amy  Le  Feuvre 

Fr«n  Girldhood  to  Womanhood       .  .     Mary  Lowe  Dickinson 

Waxwing         Caroline  A.  Mason,  author  of  "Little  Gi  een  God" 
How  to  Learn  How  ....      Henry  Drummond 

The  Shepard  Psalm  .  •  .  .  .  F.  B.  Meyer 

Kept  for  the  Master's  Use  .  Frances  Ridley  Havergal 

Keepine  Tryst,  Author  of  "Quiet  Talks  on  Power,"  S.  D.  Gordon 
Jesus  Habits  of  Prayer  .  .  .  .         S.  D.  Gordon 

A  Business  Man's  Religion        .  .  .  Amos  R.  Wells 


-  /-T'v  ■ ' — :r""'  tT.»,'"M^"ri':ri'-'^/^.rr— --gnj"  ■hi'>  .vt-^- 


Brother  Lawrence 


I 


The  Practice  of  the  Presence  of  God  the 
best  rule  of  a  Holy  Life 


Being  Conversations  and  Letters  of 

Nicholas  Herman 

of  Lorraine 

(Brother  Lawrence) 

Translated  from  the  trench 


1$ 


New  Yokk       Chicago       Toronto 

Fleming  H.  Revcll  Company 

Publieheri  of  Evangelical  Literature 


HGi^f\f^^,  /v/. 


( 


Copyright,  1895, 

by  C 

Fleming  H.  Revell  Company, 


NOrE: 

"  'Brother  Lawrence ' '  may  also  be  had  tn  a 
cheaper  form  for  distribution  under  the  title  of 
"  the  Vractice  of  the  T^resence  of  God.  l^aper. 
24mo,     8  cents. 


V 


( 


INTRODUCTION 


"  But  I  fear,  lest  by  any  means,  as  the  serpent  beguiled  Eve 
through  his  subtlety,  so  your  minds  should  be  corrupted  from 
the  simplicity  that  is  in  Christ."— 2  Cor.  xi.  3. 

The  value  of  this  little  book  is  its  extreme  simplicity. 
The  trouble  with  most  of  the  religion  of  the  day  is  its 
extreme  complexity.  "Brother  Lawrence"  was  not 
troubled  with  any  theological  difficulties  or  doctrinal 
dilemmas.  For  him  these  did  not  exist.  His  one 
single  aim  was  to  bring  about  a  conscious  personal 
union  between  himself  and  God,  and  he  took  the  short- 
est cut  he  could  find  to  accomplish  it.  The  result  can 
best  be  described  in  his  own  words :  "  If  I  dare  use  the 
expression,  I  should  choose  to  call  this  state  the  bosom 
of  God,  for  the  inexpressible  sweetness  which  I  taste 
and  experience  there." 

What  Brother  Lawrence  did  all  can  do.  No  theo- 
logical training  nor  any  especial  theological  views  are 
needed  for  the  blessed  "practice"  he  recommends. 
No  gorgeous  churches,  nor  stately  cathedral,  nor  elab- 
orate ritual,  could  either  make  or  ma"  it.  A  kitchen 
and  an  altar  were  as  one  to  him;  anv'  to  pick  up  a 


iy  INTRODUCTION 

straw  from  the  ground  was  as  grand  a  service  as  to 
preach  to  multitudes.  "  The  time  of  business,"  said 
he,  "  does  not  with  me  differ  from  the  time  of  prayer ; 
and  in  the  noise  and  clutter  of  my  kitchen,  while  sev- 
eral persons  are  at  the  same  time  calling  for  different 
things,  I  possess  God  in  as  great  tranquillity  as  if  I  were 
upon  my  knees  at  the  blessed  sacrament." 

This  little  book,  therefore,  seems  to  me  one  of  the 
most  helpful  I  know.  It  fits  into  the  lives  of  all  human 
beings,  let  them  be  rich  or  poor,  learned  or  unlearned, 
wise  or  simple.  The  woman  at  her  wash-tub,  or  the 
stone-breaker  on  the  road,  can  carry  on  the  "prac- 
tice" here  taught  with  as  much  ease  and  as  much 
assurance  of  success  as  the  priest  at  his  altar  or  the 
missionary  in  his  field  of  work. 

All  must  feel  that  anything  that  brings  the  religion 
of  Christ  within  reach  of  overworked  and  poverty- 
stricken  humanity,  in  the  midst  of  its  ignorance  and 
its  helplessness,  is  a  priceless  boon,  and  this  is  what 
Brother  Lawrence  does.  His  "  practice  "  requires  nei- 
ther time,  nor  talents,  nor  training.  At  any  moment, 
in  the  midst  of  any  occupation,  under  any  circum- 
stances, the  soul  that  wants  to  know  God  can  "  practise 
the  presence  "  and  can  come  to  the  knowledge.  The 
Lord  of  hosts  is  with  us,  the  God  of  Jacob  is  our  refuge, 
let  the  "seemings"  be  what  they  may;  and  we  need 
but  to  recognize  this  as  a  continual,  ever-present  fact, 
and  the  inexpressible  sweetness  to  which  Brother  Law- 
rence attained  will  become  ours.  ' 

Hannah  Whitall  Smith. 
London,  1897.    '■■'/; 


PREFACE 


This  book  consists  of  notes  of  several  conversations 
Aad  with,  and  letters  written  by,  Nicholas  Herman,  of 
*v/orraine,  a  lowly  and  unlearned  man,  who,  after  hav- 
ng  been  a  footman  and  soldier,  was  admitted  a  Lay 
brother  among  the  barefooted  Carmelites  at  Paris  in 
.666,  and  was  afterward  known  as  "Brother  Law- 


ence." 


His  conversion,  which  took  place  when  he  was 
vbout  eighteen  years  old,  was  the  result,  under  God, 
>f  the  mere  sight  in  midwinter  of  a  dry  and  leafless  tree, 
>jid  of  the  reflections  it  stirred  respecting  the  change 
the  coming  spring  would  bring.  From  that  time  he 
grew  eminently  in  the  knowledge  and  love  of  God,  en- 
deavoring constantly  to  walk  "as  in  His  presence. ^^ 
No  wilderness  wanderings  seem  to  have  intervened  be- 
tween the  Red  Sea  and  the  Jordan  of  his  experience. 
A  wholly  consecrated  man,  he  lived  his  Christian  life 
through  as  a  pilgrim,  as  a  steward  and  not  as  an 
owner,  and  died  at  the  age  of  eighty,  leaving  a  name 
which  has  been  as  "  ointment  poured  forth." 


6  PREFACE  t 

.  .  u  ■        ■' 

The  "Conversations"  are  supposed  to  have  been 
written  by  M.  Beaufort,  Grand  Vicar  to  M.  de  Chalons, 
formerly  Cardinal  de  Noaiiles,  by  whose  recommenda-  j 

tion  the  "  Letters  "  were  first  published.  | 

The  book  has,  within  a  short  time,  gone  through  re-  ^ 

peated  editions,  and  has  been  a  means  of  blessing  to 
many  souls.  It  contains  very  much  of  that  wisdom 
which  only  lips  the  Lord  has  touched  can  express,  and  . 

which  only  hearts  He  has  made  teachable  can  receive. 

May  this  edition  also  be  blessed  by  God,  and  re-  | 

dound  to  the  praise  of  the  glory  of  His  grace. 


^ 


.  t 


i 


CONVERSATIONS 


FIRST   CONVERSATION 


f 


The  first  time  I  saw  Brother  Lawrence  was  upon  the 
3d  of  August,  1666.  He  told  me  that  God  had  done 
him  a  singular  favor  in  his  conversion  at  the  age  of 
eighteen. 

That  in  the  winter,  seeing  a  tree  stripped  of  its 
leaves,  and  considering  that  within  a  little  time  the 
leaves  would  be  renewed,  and  after  that  the  flowers 
and  fruit  appear,  he  received  a  high  view  of  the  provi- 
dence and  power  of  God,  which  has  never  since  been 
effaced  from  his  soul.  That  this  view  had  perfectly 
set  him  loose  from  the  world,  and  kindled  in  him  such 
a  love  for  God  that  he  could  not  tell  whether  it  had  in- 
creased diuing  the  more  than  forty  years  he  had  Hved 
since. 

That  he  had  been  footman  to  M.  Fieubert,  the  trea- 
siu-er,  and  that  he  was  a  great  awkward  fellow  who 
broke  everything. 

That  he  had  desired  to  be  received  into  a  monastery, 
thinking  that  he  would  there  be  made  to  smart  for  his 
awkwardness  and  the  faults  he  should  commit,  and  so 


i 


(v 


8  CONVERSATIONS 

he  should  sacrifice  to  God  his  life,  with  its  pleasures ; 
but  that  God  had  disappointed  him,  he  having  met  with 
nothing  but  satisfaction  in  that  state. 

That  we  should  establish  oiu-selves  in  a  sense  of 
God's  presence  by  continually  conversing  with  Him. . 
That  it  was  a  shameful  thing  to  quit  His  conversation  /'  ^ 

to  think  of  trifles  and  fooleries. 

That  we  should  feed  and  nourish  our  souls  with 
high  notions  of  God  ;  which  would  yield  us  great  joy 
in  being  devoted  to  Him. 

That  we  ought  to  quicken — i.e.,  to  enliven — our  faith. 
That  it  was  lamentable  we  had  so  little ;  and  that  in- 
stead of  taking /«////  for  the  rule  of  their  conduct,  men 
amused  themselves  with  trivial  devotions,  which  changed 
daily.  That  the  way  of  faith  was  the  spirit  of  the 
church,  and  that  it  was  sufficient  to  bring  us  to  a  high 
degree  of  perfection. 

That  we  ought  to  give  ourselves  up  to  God,  with  re- 
gard both  to  things  temporal  and  spiritual,  and  seek 
our  satisfaction  only  in  the  fulfilling  of  His  will,  whether 
He  lead  us  by  suffering  or  by  consolation,  for  all  would 
be  equal  to  a  soul  truly  resigned.  That  there  needed 
fidehty  in  those  drynesses  or  insensibilities  and  irksome- 
nesses  in  prayer  by  which  God  tries  our  love  to  Him ; 
that  then  was  the  time  for  us  to  make  good  and  effec- 
tual acts  of  resignation,  whereof  one  alone  would  often- 
times very  much  promote  our  spiritual  advancement. 

That  as  for  the  miseries  and  sins  he  heard  of  daily 
in  the  world,  he  was  so  far  from  wondering  at  them 
that,  on  the  contrary,  he  was  surprised  that  there  were 
not  more,  considering  the  malice  sinners  were  capable 
of ;  that,  for  his  part,  he  prayed  for  them ;  but  knowing 


i 


> 


' 


( \ 


/u 


*> 


i 


V'\ 


CONVERSATIONS  % 

that  God  could  remedy  the  mischiefs  they  did  when 
He  pleased,  he  gave  himself  no  further  trouble. 

That  to  arrive  at  such  resignation  as  God  requires, 
we  should  watch  attentively  over  all  the  passions  which 
mingle  as  well  in  spiritual  things  as  in  those  of  a  grosser 
nature;  that  God  would  give  light  concerning  those 
passions  to  those  who  truly  desire  to  serve  Him.  That 
if  this  was  my  design,  viz.,  sincerely  to  serve  God,  I 
might  come  to  him  (Brother  Lawrence)  as  often  as  I 
pleased,  without  any  fear  of  being  troublesome ;  but  if 
not,  that  I  ought  no  more  to  visit  him. 

SECOND    CONVERSATION 

That  he  had  always  been  governed  by  love,  without 
selfish  views ;  and  that  having  resolved  to  make  the  love 
of  GoD  the  end  of  all  his  actions,  he  had  found  reasons 
to  be  well  satisfied  with  his  method.  That  he  was 
pleased  when  he  could  take  up  a  straw  from  the  ground 
for  the  love  of  God,  seeking  Him  only,  and  nothing 
else,  not  even  His  gifts. 

That  he  had  been  long  troubled  in  mind  from  a  cer- 
tain belief  that  he  should  be  damned ;  that  all  the  men 
in  the  world  could  not  have  persuaded  him  to  the  con- 
trary ;  but  that  he  had  thus  reasoned  with  himself  about 
it :  I  engaged  in  a  religious  life  only  for  the  love  of  God, 
and  I  have  endeavored  to  act  only  for  Him;  whatever  be- 
comes of  vie ^  whether  I  be  lost  or  saved,  I  will  always  con- 
tinue to  act  purely  for  the  love  of  God.  I  shall  have  this 
good  at  least,  that  till  death  I  shall  have  done  all  that  is 
in  me  to  love  Him.  That  this  trouble  of  mind  had  lasted 
four  years,  during  which  time  he  had  suffered  much ; 
but  that  at  last  he  had  seen  that  this  trouble  arose 


10  CONVERSATIONS 

from  want  of  faith,  and  that  since  then  he  had  passed 
his  life  in  perfect  Hberty  and  continual  joy.  That  he 
had  placed  his  sins  betwixt  him  and  God,  as  it  were, 
to  tell  Him  that  he  did  not  deserve  His  favors,  but 
that  God  still  continued  to  bestow  them  in  abundance. 

That  in  order  to  form  a  habit  of  conversing  with  God 
continually,  and  referring  all  we  do  to  Him,  we  must  at 
first  apply  to  Him  with  some  diligence ;  but  that  after 
a  little  care  we  should  find  His  love  inwardly  excite  us 
to  it  without  any  difficulty. 

That  he  expected,  after  the  pleasant  days  God  had 
given  him,  he  should  have  his  turn  of  pain  and  suffer- 
ing ;  but  that  he  was  not  uneasy  about  it,  knowing  very 
well  that  as  he  could  do  nothing  of  himself,  God  would 
not  fail  to  give  him  the  strength  to  bear  it. 

That  when  an  occasion  of  practising  some  virtue 
offered,  he  addressed  himself  to  God,  saying.  Lord,  I 
cannot  do  this  unless  Thou  enablest  me;  and  that  then  he 
received  strength  more  than  sufficient.  'dj 

That  when  he  had  failed  in  his  duty,  he  only  con. 
fessed  his  fault,  saying  to  God,  /  shall  never  do  other, 
wise  if  You  leave  me  to  myself;  it  is  You  who  must  hin^ 
der  my  falling,  and  mend  what  is  amiss.  That  after  this 
he  gave  himself  nc  further  uneasiness  about  it. 

That  we  ought  to  act  with  God  in  the  greatest  sim- 
plicity, speaking  to  Him  frankly  and  plainly,  and  im- 
ploring His  assistance  in  oiu*  affairs,  just  as  they  hap- 
pen. That  God  never  failed  to  grant  it,  as  he  had 
often  experienced. 

That  he  had  been  lately  sent  into  Burgundy,  to  buy 
the  provision  of  wine  for  the  society,  which  was  a  very 
unwelcome  task  for  him,  because  he  had  no  tiun  for 


'6' 


I 


<&'• 


f 


CONVERSATIONS 


SI 


^1 


business,  and  because  he  was  lame  and  could  not  go 
about  the  boat  but  by  rolling  himself  over  the  casks. 
That,  however,  he  gave  himself  no  uneasiness  about  it, 
nor  about  the  purchase  of  the  wine.  That  he  said  to 
God,  //  was  His  business  he  was  about,  and  that  he  after- 
ward found  it  very  well  performed.  That  he  had  been 
sent  into  Auvergne,  the  year  before,  upon  the  same  ac- 
count ;  that  he  could  not  tell  how  the  matter  passed, 
but  that  it  proved  very  well. 

So,  likewise,  in  his  business  in  the  kitchen  (to  which 
he  had  naturally  a  great  aversion),  having  accustomed 
himself  to  do  everything  there  for  the  love  of  God,  and 
with  prayer,  upon  all  occasions,  for  His  grace  to  do  his 
work  well,  he  had  found  everything  easy,  during  fifteen 
years  that  he  had  been  employed  there. 

That  he  was  very  well  pleased  with  the  post  he  was 
now  in ;  but  that  he  was  as  ready  to  quit  that  as  the 
former,  since  he  was  always  pleasing  himself  in  every 
condition  by  doing  little  things  for  the  love  of  God. 

That  with  him  the  set  times  of  prayer  were  not  dif- 
ferent from  other  times ;  that  he  retired  to  pray,  accord- 
ing to  the  directions  of  his  superior,  but  that  he  did  not 
want  such  retirement,  nor  ask  for  it,  because  his  great- 
est business  did  not  divert  him  from  God. 

That  as  he  knew  his  obligation  to  love  God  in  all 
things,  and  as  he  endeavored  so  to  do,  he  had  no  need 
of  a  director  to  advise  him,  but  that  he  needed  much  a 
confessor  to  absolve  him.  That  he  was  very  sensible 
of  his  faults,  but  not  discouraged  by  them ;  that  he  con- 
fessed them  to  God,  but  did  not  plead  against  Him  to 
excuse  them.  When  he  had  so  done,  he  peaceably  re- 
sumed his  usual  practice  of  love  and  adoration. 


tS  CONVERSATIONS 

That  in  his  trouble  of  mind  he  had  consulted  no- 
body, but  knowing  only  by  the  light  of  faith  that  God 
was  present,  he  contented  himself  with  directing  all  his 
actions  to  Him,  i.e.,  doing  them  with  a  desire  to  please 
Him,  let  what  would  come  of  it. 

That  useless  thoughts  spoil  all;  that  the  mischief 
began  there ;  but  that  we  ought  to  reject  them  as  soon 
as  we  perceived  their  impertinence  to  the  matter  in 
hand,  or  our  salvation,  and  rettun  to  oiu:  conmiunion 
with  God. 

That  at  the  beginning  he  had  often  passed  his  time 
appointed  for  prayer  in  rejecting  wandering  thoughts 
and  falling  back  into  them.  That  he  could  never  regu- 
late his  devotion  by  certain  methods  as  some  do.  That, 
nevertheless,  at  first  he  had  meditated  for  some  time,  bue 
afterward  that  went  off,  in  a  manner  he  could  give  no 
account  of. 

That  all  bodily  mortifications  and  other  exercise* 
are  useless,  except  as  they  serve  to  arrive  at  the  union 
with  God  by  love ;  that  he  had  well  considered  this,  and 
found  it  the  shortest  way  to  go  straight  to  Him  by  a 
continual  exercise  of  love  and  doing  all  things  for  His 
sake. 

That  we  ought  to  make  a  great  difference  between 
the  acts  of  the  understanding  and  those  of  the  will; 
that  the  first  were  comparatively  of  little  value,  and  the 
others,  all.  That  our  only  business  was  to  love  and 
delight  ourselves  in  God. 

That  all  possible  kinds  of  mortification,  if  they  were 
void  of  the  love  of  God,  could  not  efface  a  single  sin. 
That  we  ought,  without  anxiety,  to  expect  the  pardon 
of  our  sins  from  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  only  cn- 


CONVERSATIONS  |t 

deavoring  to  love  Him  with  all  our  hearts.  That  God 
seemed  to  have  granted  the  greatest  favors  to  the  great- 
est sinners,  as  more  signal  monuments  of  His  mercy. 

That  the  greatest  pains  or  pleasures  of  this  world 
were  not  to  be  compared  with  what  he  had  experienced 
of  both  kinds  in  a  spiritual  state ;  so  that  he  was  care- 
ful for  nothing  and  feared  nothing,  desiring  only  one 
thing  of  God,  viz.,  that  he  might  not  offend  Him. 

That  he  had  no  scruples ;  for,  said  he,  when  I  fail  in 
my  duty,  I  readily  acknowledge  it,  saying,  lam  used  to 
do  so;  I  shall  never  do  otherwise  if  I  am  left  to  myself. 
If  I  fail  not,  then  I  give  God  thanks,  acknowledging 
that  the  strength  comes  from  Him. 

THIRD   CONVERSATION 

He  told  me  that  Xht  foundation  of  the  spiritual  life  in 
him  had  been  a  high  notion  and  esteem  of  God  in  faith ; 
which  when  he  had  once  well  conceived,  he  had  no 
other  care  at  first  but  faithfully  to  reject  every  other 
thought,  that  he  might  perform  all  his  actions  for  the  love 
of  God.  That  when  sometimes  he  had  not  thought  of 
God  for  a  good  while,  he  did  not  disquiet  himself  for 
it ;  but,  after  having  acknowledged  his  wretchedness  to 
God,  he  returned  to  Him  with  so  much  the  greater  trust 
in  Him  as  he  had  found  himself  wretched  through  for- 
getting Him. 

That  the  trust  we  put  in  God  honors  Him  much  and 
draws  down  great  graces. 

That  it  was  impossible  not  only  that  God  should 
deceive,  but  also  that  He  should  long  let  a  soul  suffer 
which  is  perfectly  resigned  to  Him,  and  resolved  to 
endure  everything  for  His  sake. 


u 


CO^iVERSATlONS 


That  he  had  so  often  experienced  the  ready  succors 
of  divine  grace  upon  all  occasions,  that  from  the 
same  experience,  when  he  had  business  to  do,  he  did 
not  think  of  it  beforehand ;  but  when  it  was  time  to  do 
it,  he  found  in  God,  as  in  a  clear  mirror,  all  that  was 
fit  for  him  to  do.  That  of  late  he  had  acted  thus,  with- 
out anticipating  care ;  but  before  the  experience  above 
mentioned,  he  had  used  it  in  his  affairs. 

When  outward  business  diverted  him  a  little  from 
the  thought  of  God,  a  fresh  remembrance  coming  from 
God  invested  his  soul,  and  so  inflamed  and  transported 
him  that  it  was  difficult  for  him  to  contain  himself. 

That  he  was  more  united  to  God  in  his  outward 
employments  than  when  he  left  them  for  devotion  and 
retirement. 

That  he  expected  hereafter  some  great  pain  of  body 
or  mind ;  that  the  worst  that  could  happen  to  him  was 
to  lose  that  sense  of  God  which  he  had  enjoyed  so 
long;  but  that  the  goodness  of  God  assured  him  He 
would  not  forsake  him  utterly,  and  that  He  would 
give  him  strength  to  bear  whatever  evil  He  permitted 
to  happen  to  him ;  and  therefore  that  he  feared  noth- 
ing, and  had  no  occasion  to  consult  with  anybody 
about  his  state.  That  when  he  had  attempted  to  do 
it,  he  had  always  come  away  more  perplexed;  and 
that  as  he  was  conscious  of  his  readiness  to  lay  down 
his  life  for  the  love  of  God,  he  had  no  apprehension 
of  danger.  That  perfect  resignation  to  God  was  a  sure 
way  to  heaven,  a  way  in  which  we  had  always  suffi- 
cient light  for  our  conduct. 

That  in  the  beginning  of  the  spiritual  life  we  ought 
to  be  faithful  in  doing  our  duty  and  denying  ourselves ; 


CONyERSATlONS 


u 


but  after  that,  unspeakable  pleasures  followed.  That  in 
difficulties  we  need  only  have  recourse  to  Jesus  Christ, 
and  beg  His  grace ;  with  that  everything  became  easy. 

That  many  do  not  advance  in  the  Christian  progress 
because  they  stick  in  penances  and  particulrr  exercises, 
while  they  neglect  the  love  of  God,  which  is  the  end. 
That  this  appeared  plainly  by  their  works,  and  was  the 
reason  why  we  see  so  little  solid  virtue. 

That  there  needed  neither  art  nor  science  for  going 
to  God,  but  only  a  heart  resolutely  determined  to  apply 
itself  to  nothing  but  Him,  or  for  His  sake,  and  to  love 
Him  only. 

FOURTH   CONVERSATION 


He  discoursed  with  me  very  frequently,  and  with 
great  openness  of  heart,  concerning  his  manner  of 
going  to  God,  whereof  some  part  is  related  already. 

He  told  me  that  all  consists  in  one  hearty  renunciation 
oi  everything  which  we  are  sensible  does  not  lead  to 
God.  That  we  might  accustom  ourselves  to  a  continual 
conversation  with  Him,  with  freedom  and  in  simplicity. 
That  we  need  only  to  recognize  God  intimately  pres- 
ent with  us,  to  address  ourselves  to  Him  every  moment, 
that  we  may  beg  His  assistance  for  knowing  His  will  in 
things  doubtful,  and  for  rightly  performing  those  which 
we  plainly  see  He  requires  of  us,  offering  them  to  Him 
before  we  do  them,  and  giving  Him  thanks  when  we 
have  done. 

That  in  this  conversation  with  God  we  are  also  em- 
ployed in  praising,  adoring,  and  loving  Him  incessantly, 
for  His  infinite  goodness  and  perfection. 


I 


16  CONyERSATIOl^S 

That,  without  being  discouraged  on  account  of  our 
sins,  we  should  pray  for  His  grace  with  a  perfect  con- 
fidence, as  relying  upon  the  infinite  merits  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.  That  God  never  failed  offenng  us 
His  grace  at  each  action ;  that  he  distinctly  perceived 
it,  and  never  failed  of  it,  unless  when  his  thoughts  had 
wandered  from  a  sense  of  God's  presence,  or  he  had 
fprgotten  to  ask  His  assistance. 

That  God  always  gave  us  light  in  our  doubts  when 
we  had  no  other  design  but  to  please  Him. 

That  our  sanctification  did  not  depend  upon  chang- 
ing our  works,  but  in  doing  that  for  God's  sake  which 
we  commonly  do  for  our  own.  That  it  was  lamen- 
table to  see  how  many  people  mistook  the  means  for  the 
end,  addicting  themselves  to  certain  works,  which  they 
performed  very  imperfectly,  by  reason  of  their  human 
or  selfish  regards. 

That  the  most  excellent  method  he  had  found  of 
going  to  God  was  that  of  doing  our  common  business 
without  any  view  of  pleasing  men,*  and  (as  far  as  we 
are  capable)  purely  for  the  love  of  God. 

That  it  was  a  great  delusion  to  think  that  the  times 
of  prayer  ought  to  differ  from  other  times ;  that  we  are 
as  strictly  obhged  to  adhere  to  God  by  action  in  the 
time  of  action  as  by  prayer  in  the  season  of  prayer. 

That  his  prayer  was  nothing  else  but  a  sense  of  the 
presence  of  God,  his  soul  being  at  that  time  insensible 
to  everything  but  divine  love ;  and  that  when  the  ap- 
pointed times  of  prayer  were  past,  he  found  no  differ- 
ence, because  he  still  continued  with  God,  praising  and 
blessing  Him  with  all  his  might,  so  that  he  passed  his 

*  Gal.  i.  lo;  Eph.  vi.  5,  6. 


T 


CONVERSATIONS  17 

life  in  continual  joy ;  yet  hoped  that  God  would  give 
him  somewhat  to  suffer  when  he  should  grow  stronger. 

Inat  v/2  ought,  once  for  all,  heartily  to  put  our 
whole  trust  in  God,  and  make  a  total  surrender  of  our- 
selves to  Him,  secure  t^at  He  would  not  deceive  us. 

That  we  ought  not  to  be  weary  of  doing  little  things 
for  the  love  of  God,  who  regards  not  the  greatness  of 
the  work,  but  the  love  with  which  it  is  performed. 
That  we  should  not  wonder  if,  in  the  beginning,  we 
often  failed  in  our  endeavors,  but  that  at  last  we  should 
gain  a  habit,  which  will  naturally  produce  its  acts  in  us, 
without  our  care,  and  to  our  exceeding  great  delight. 

That  the  whole  substance  of  religion  was  faith,  hope, 
and  charity,  by  the  practice  of  which  we  beoome  united 
to  the  will  of  God  ;  that  all  besides  is  indifferent,  and 
to  be  used  as  a  means  that  we  may  arrive  at  our  end, 
and  be  swallowed  up  therein,  by  faith  and  charity. 

That  all  things  are  possible  to  him  who  believes;  that 
they  are  less  difficult  to  him  who  hopes;  that  they  are 
more  easy  to  him  who  loves^  and  still  more  easy  to  him 
who  perseveres  in  the  practice  of  these  three  virtues. 

That  the  end  we  ought  to  propose  to  ourselves  is  to 
become,  in  this  life,  the  most  perfect  worshipers  of 
God  we  can  possibly  be,  as  we  hope  to  be  through  all 
eternity. 

That  when  we  enter  upon  the  spiritual  life,  we  should 
consider  and  examine  to  the  bottom  what  we  are.  And 
then  we  should  find  ourselves  worthy  of  all  contempt, 
and  not  deserving  indeed  the  name  of  Christians ;  sub- 
ject to  all  kinds  of  misery  and  numberless  accidents, 
which  trouble  us  and  cause  perpetual  vicissitudes  in 
our  health,  in  our  humors,  in  our  internal  and  external 


18 


CONyERSATlONS 


dispositions ;  in  fine,  persons  whom  God  would  humble 
by  many  pains  and  labors,  as  well  within  as  without. 
After  this  we  should  not  wonder  that  troubles,  tempta- 
tions, oppositions,  and  contradictions  happen  to  us  from 
men.  We  ought,  on  the  contrary,  to  submit  ourselves 
to  them,  and  bear  them  as  long  as  God  pleases,  as  things 
highly  advantageous  to  us. 

That  the  greater  perfection  a  soul  aspires  after,  the 
more  dependent  it  is  upon  divine  grace. 

*  Being  questioned  by  one  of  his  own  society  (to 
whom  he  was  obliged  tp  open  himself)  by  what  means 
he  had  attained  such  an  habitual  sense  of  God,  he  told 
him  that,  since  his  first  coming  to  the  monastery,  he 
had  considered  God  as  the  end  of  all  his  thoughts  and 
desires,  as  the  mark  to  which  they  should  tend,  and  in 
which  they  should  terminate. 

That  in  the  beginning  of  his  novitiate  he  spent  the 
hours  appointed  for  private  prayer  in  thinking  of  God, 
so  as  to  convince  his  mind  of,  and  to  impress  deeply 
upon  his  heart,  the  divine  existence,  rather,  by  devout 
sentiments,  and  submission  to  the  hghts  of  faith,  than 
by  studied  reasonings  and  elaborate  meditations.  That 
by  this  short  and  sure  method  he  exercised  himself  in 
the  knowledge  and  love  of  God,  resolving  to  use  his 
utmost  endeavor  to  live  in  a  continual  sense  of  His 
presence,  and,  if  possible,  never  to  forget  Him  more. 

That  when  he  had  thus  in  prayer  filled  his  mind  with 
great  sentiments  of  that  infinite  Being,  he  went  to  his 
work  appointed  in  the  kitchen  (for  he  was  cook  to  the 
society).    There  having  first  considered  severally  the 

*  The  particulars  which  follow  are  collected  from  other  ac- 
counts  of  Brother  Lawrence. 


CONVERSATIONS 


19 


things  his  office  required,  and  when  and  how  each 
thing  was  to  be  done,  he  spent  all  the  intervals  of  his 
time,  as  well  before  as  after  his  work,  in  prayer. 

That  when  he  began  his  business,  he  said  to  God,  with 
a  filial  trust  in  Him :  O  my  God,  since  Thou  art  with 
mgy  and  I  must  now^  in  obedience  to  Thy  commands^ 
apply  my  mind  to  these  outward  things^  I  beseech  Thee 
to  grant  me  the  grace  to  continue  in  Thy  presence;  and 
to  this  end  do  Thou  prosper  me  with  Thy  assistance ,  re- 
ceive all  my  works^  and  possess  all  my  affections. 

As  he  proceeded  in  his  work  he  continued  his  famil- 
iar conversation  with  his  Maker,  imploring  His  grace, 
and  offering  to  Him  all  his  actions. 

When  he  had  finished  he  examined  himself  how  he 
had  discharged  his  duty ;  if  he  found  well,  he  retiuned 
thanks  to  God  ;  if  otherwise,  he  asked  pardon,  and, 
without  being  discouraged,  he  set  his  mind  right  again, 
and  continued  his  exercise  of  the  presence  of  God  as  if 
he  had  never  deviated  from  it.  "  Thus,"  said  he,  "  by 
rising  after  my  falls,  and  by  frequently  renewed  acts  of 
faith  and  love,  I  am  come  to  a  state  wherein  it  would 
be  as  difficult  for  me  not  to  think  of  God  as  it  was  at 
first  to  accustom  myself  to  it." 

As  Brother  Lawrence  had  found  such  an  advantage 
in  walking  in  the  presence  of  God,  it  was  natural  for 
him  to  recommend  it  earnestly  to  others ;  but  his  ex- 
ample was  a  stronger  inducement  than  any  arguments 
he  could  propose.  His  very  countenance  was  edify- 
ing, such  a  sweet  and  calm  devotion  appearing  in  it  as 
could  not  but  affect  the  beholders.  And  it  was  ob- 
served that  in  the  greatest  hurry  of  business  in  the 
kitchen  he  still  preserved  his  recollection  and  heavenly- 


20 


CONVERSATIONS 


mindedness.  He  was  never  hasty  nor  loitering,  but 
did  each  thing  in  its  season,  with  an  even,  uninterrupted 
composure  and  tranquillity  of  spirit.  "The  time  of 
business,"  said  he,  "  does  not  with  me  differ  from  the 
time  of  prayer,  and  in  the  noise  and  clatter  of  my 
kitchen,  while  several  persons  are  at  the  same  time 
calling  for  different  things,  I  possess  God  in  as  great 
tranquillity  as  if  I  were  upon  my  knees  at  the  blessed 
sacrament." 


~-t_ 


LETTERS 


FIRST   LETTER 

Since  you  desire  so  earnestly  that  I  should  com- 
municate to  you  the  method  by  which  I  arrived  at  that 
habitual  sense  of  God's  presence^  which  our  Lord,  of 
His  mercy,  has  been  pleased  to  vouchsafe  to  me,  I 
'nust  tell  you  that  it  is  with  great  difficulty  that  I  am 
prevailed  on  by  your  importunities;  and  now  I  do  it 
only  upon  the  terms  that  you  show  my  letter  to  nobody. 
If  I  knew  that  you  would  let  it  be  seen,  all  the  desire 
''.hat  I  have  for  your  advancement  would  not  be  able 
*o  determine  me  to  it.    The  account  I  can  give  you  is : 

Having  found  in  many  books  different  m'  thods  of 
going  to  God,  and  divers  practices  of  the  spiritual  life, 
I  thought  this  would  serve  rather  to  puzzle  me  than 
facilitate  what  I  sought  after,  which  was  nothing  but 
how  to  become  wholly  God's.  This  made  me  resolve 
to  give  the  all  for  the  all ;  so  after  having  given  myself 
wholly  to  God,  that  He  might  take  away  my  sin,  /  re- 
nounced, for  the  love  of  Him,  everything  that  was  not 
He,  and  I  began  to  live  as  if  there  was  none  but  He  and 
I  in  the  world.  Sometimes  I  considered  myself  before 
Him  as  a  poor  criminal  at  the  feet  of  his  judge ;  at  other 
^.imes  I  beheld  Him  in  my  heart  as  my  Father,  as  my 
God.  I  worshiped  him  the  oftenest  that  I  could,  keep- 
ax 


LETTERS 


ing  my  mind  in  His  holy  presence,  and  recalling  it  as 
often  as  I  found  it  wandered  from  Him.  I  found  no 
small  pain  in  this  exercise,  and  yet  I  continued  it,  not- 
withstanding all  the  difficulties  that  occurred,  without 
troubling  or  disquieting  myself  when  my  mind  had  wan- 
dered involuntarily.  I  made  this  my  business  as  much 
all  the  day  long  as  at  the  appointed  times  of  prayer ; 
for  at  all  times,  every  hour,  every  minute,  even  in  the 
height  of  my  business,  I  drove  away  from  my  mind 
everything  that  was  capable  of  interrupting  my  thought 
of  God. 

Such  has  been  my  common  practice  ever  since  I 
entered  in  religion;  and  though  I  have  done  it  very 
imperfectly,  yet  I  have  found  great  advantages  by  it. 
These,  I  well  know,  are  to  be  imputed  to  the  mere 
mercy  and  goodness  of  God,  because  we  can  do  noth- 
ing without  Him,  and  /  still  less  than  any.  But  when 
we  are  faithful  to  keep  ourselves  in  His  holy  presence, 
and  set  Him  always  before  us,  this  not  only  hinders 
our  offending  Him  and  doing  anything  that  may  dis- 
please Him,  at  least  wilfully,  but  it  also  begets  in  us  a 
holy  freedom,  and,  if  I  may  so  speak,  a  familiarity  with 
God,  wherewith  we  ask,  and  that  successfully,  the  graces 
we  stand  in  need  of.  In  fine,  by  often  repeating  these 
acts,  they  become  habitual^  and  the  presence  of  God 
rendered  as  it  were  natural  to  us.  Give  Him  thanks, 
if  you  please,  with  me,  for  His  great  goodness  toward 
me,  which  I  can  never  sufficiently  admire,  for  the  many 
favors  He  has  done  to  so  miserable  a  sinner  as  I  am. 
May  all  things  praise  Him.    Amen. 

I  am,  in  our  Lord, 
*  Yours,  etc 


LETTERS 


SECOND   LETTER 


To  the  Reverend 

Not  finding  my  manner  of  life  in  books,  although  I 
have  no  difficulty  about  it,  yet,  for  greater  security,  I 
shall  be  glad  to  know  your  thoughts  concerning  it. 

In  a  conversation  some  days  since  with  a  person  of 
piety,  he  told  me  the  spiritual  life  was  a  Hfe  of  grace, 
which  begins  with  servile  fear,  which  is  increased  by 
hope  of  eternal  life,  and  which  is  consummated  by 
pure  love;  that  each  of  these  states  had  its  different 
stages,  by  which  one  arrives  at  last  at  that  blessed  con- 
summation. 

I  have  not  followed  all  these  methods.  On  the  con- 
trary, from  I  know  not  what  instincts,  I  found  they  dis- 
couraged me.  This  was  the  reason  why,  at  my  entrance 
into  religion,  I  took  a  resolution  to  give  myself  up  to 
God,  as  the  best  return  I  could  make  for  His  love,  and, 
for  the  love  of  Him,  to  renounce  all  besides. 

For  the  first  year  I  commonly  employed  myself  dur- 
ing the  time  set  apart  for  devotion  with  the  thought  of 
death,  judgment,  heaven,  hell,  and  my  sins.  Thus  I 
continued  some  years,  applying  my  mind  carefully  the 
rest  of  the  day,  and  even  in  the  midst  of  my  business, 
to  the  presence  of  God,  whom  I  considered  always  as 
with  me,  often  as  in  me. 

At  length  I  came  insensibly  to  do  the  same  thing 
during  my  set  time  of  prayer,  which  caused  in  me  great 
delight  and  consolation.  This  practice  produced  in  me 
so  high  an  esteem  for  God  XhdX  faith  alone  was  capable 
to  satisfy  me  in  that  point.* 

*  /  suppose  he  means  that  all  distinct  notions  he  coold  form  of 
God  were  nnsatisfactory,  because  he  perceived  them  to  be  oa- 


24 


LETTERS 


Such  was  my  beginning,  and  yet  I  must  tell  you  that 
for  the  first  ten  years  I  suffered  much.  The  apprehen- 
sion that  I  was  not  devoted  to  God  as  I  wished  to  be, 
my  past  sins  always  present  to  my  mind,  and  the  great 
unmerited  favors  which  God  did  me,  were  the  matter 
and  source  of  my  sufferings.  During  this  time  I  fell 
often,  and  rose  again  presently.  It  seemed  to  me  that 
all  creatures,  reason,  and  God  Himself  were  against 
me,  and  faith  alone  for  me.  I  was  troubled  sometimes 
with  thoughts  that  to  believe  I  had  received  such  favors 
was  an  effect  of  my  presumption,  which  pretended  to 
be  at  once  where  others  arrive  with  difficulty ;  at  other 
times,  that  it  was  a  wilful  delusion,  and  that  there  was 
no  salvation  for  me. 

When  I  thought  of  nothing  but  to  end  my  days  in 
these  troubles  (which  did  not  at  all  diminish  the  trust 
I  had  in  God,  and  which  served  only  to  increase  my 
faith),  I  found  myself  changed  all  at  once;  and  my 
soul,  which  till  that  time  was  in  trouble,  felt  a  profound 
inward  peace,  as  if  she  were  in  her  center  and  place  of 
rest. 

Ever  since  that  time  I  walk  before  God  simply,  in 
i'aith,  with  humihty  and  with  love,  and  I  apply  myself 
diligently  to  do  nothing  and  think  nothing  which  may 
displease  Him.  I  hope  that  when  I  have  done  what  I 
can,  He  will  do  with  me  what  He  pleases. 

As  for  what  passes  in  me  at  present,  I  cannot  express 
it.    I  have  no  pain  or  difficulty  about  my  state,  because 

worthy  of  God  ;  and  therefore  his  mind  was  not  to  be  satisfied 
but  by  the  views  oifaith^  which  apprehend  God  as  infinite  and 
incomprehensible,  as  He  is  in  Himself,  and  not  as  He  can  be 
conceived  by  human  ideas. 


LETTERS 


25 


X  have  no  will  but  that  of  God,  which  I  endeavor  to 
accomplish  in  all  things,  and  to  which  I  am  so  resigned 
that  I  would  not  take  up  a  straw  from  the  ground  against 
His  order,  or  from  any  other  motive  than  purely  that 
of  love  to  Him. 

I  have  quitted  all  forms  of  devotion  and  set  prayers 
but  those  to  which  my  state  obliges  me.  And  I  make 
it  my  business  only  to  persevere  in  His  holy  presence, 
wherein  I  keep  myself  by  a  simple  attention,  and  a 
general  fond  regard  to  God,  which  I  may  call  an  actual 
presence  of  God  ;  or,  to  speak  better,  an  habitual,  silent, 
and  secret  conversation  of  the  soul  with  God,  which 
•often  causes  me  joys  and  raptiures  inwardly,  and  some- 
times also  outwardly,  so  great  that  I  am  forced  to  use 
.'means  to  moderate  them  and  prevent  their  appearance 
to  others. 

In  short,  I  am  assured  beyond  all  doubt  that  my  soul 
has  been  with  God  above  these  thirty  years.  I  pass  over 
many  things  that  I  may  not  be  tedious  to  you,  yet  I 
think  it  proper  to  inform  you  after  what  manner  I  con- 
Aider  myself  before  God,  whom  I  behold  as  my  King. 

I  consider  myself  as  the  most  wretched  of  men,  full 
of  sores  and  corruption,  and  who  has  committed  all  sorts 
of  crimes  against  his  King.  Touched  with  a  sensible  re- 
gret, I  confess  to  Him  all  my  wickedness,  I  ask  His  for- 
giveness, I  abandon  myself  in  His  hands  that  He  may 
do  what  He  pleases  with  me.  The  King,  full  of  mercy 
and  goodness,  very  far  from  chastising  me,  embraces  me 
with  love,  makes  me  eat  at  His  table,  serves  me  with 
His  own  hands,  gives  me  the  key  of  His  treasures ;  He 
converses  and  delights  Himself  with  me  incessantly,  in 
a  thousand  and  a  thousand  ways,  and  treats  me  in  all 


1 


fl6 


LETTERS 


m 


respects  as  His  favorite.  It  is  thus  I  consider  myself 
from  time  to  time  in  His  holy  presence. 

My  most  useful  method  is  this  simple  attention,  and 
such  a  general  passionate  regard  to  God,  to  whom  I 
find  myself  often  attached  with  greater  sweetness  and 
delight  than  that  of  an  infant  at  the  mother's  breast ; 
so  that,  if  I  dare  use  the  expression,  I  should  choose  to 
call  this  state  the  bosom  of  God,  for  the  inexpressible 
sweetness  which  I  taste  and  experience  there. 

If  sometimes  my  thoughts  wander  from  it  by  neces- 
sity or  infirmity,  I  am  presently  recalled  by  inward 
motions  so  charming  and  delicious  that  I  am  ashamed 
to  mention  them.  I  desire  your  Reverence  to  reflect 
rather  upon  my  great  wretchedness,  of  which  you  are 
fully  informed,  than  upon  the  great  favors  which  God 
does  me,  all  unworthy  and  ungrateful  as  I  am. 

As  for  my  set  hours  of  prayer,  they  are  only  a  con- 
tinuation of  the  same  exercise.  Sometimes  I  consider 
myself  there  as  a  stone  before  a  carver,  whereof  he  is 
to  make  a  statue ;  presenting  myself  thus  before  God,  I 
desire  Him  to  form  His  perfect  image  in  my  soul,  and 
make  me  entirely  like  Himself. 

At  other  times,  when  I  apply  myself  to  prayer,  I 
feel  all  my  spirit  and  all  my  soul  lift  itself  up  without 
any  care  or  effort  of  mine,  and  it  continues  as  it  were 
suspended  and  firmly  fixed  in  God,  as  in  its  center  and 
place  of  rest. 

I  know  that  some  charge  this  state  with  inactivity, 
delusion,  and  self-love.  I  confess  that  it  is  a  holy  in- 
activity, and  would  be  a  happy  self-love  if  the  soul  in 
that  state  were  capable  of  it,  because,  in  effect,  while 
she  is  in  this  repose,  she  cannot  be  disturbed  by  such 


tBTTERS 


27 


acts  as  she  was  formerly  accustomed  to,  and  which  were 
then  her  support,  but  which  would  now  rather  hinder 
than  assist  her. 

Yet  I  cannot  bear  that  this  should  be  called  delu- 
sion, because  the  soul  which  thus  enjoys  God  desires 
herein  nothing  but  Him.  If  this  be  delusion  in  me,  it 
belongs  to  God  to  remedy  it.  Let  Him  do  what  He 
pleases  with  me ;  I  desire  only  Him,  and  to  be  wholly 
devoted  to  Him.  You  will,  however,  oblige  me  in 
sending  me  your  opinion,  to  which  I  always  pay  a 
great  deference,  for  I  have  a  singular  esteem  for  your 
Reverence,  and  am,  in  our  Lord, 

Yours,  etc. 

THIRD  LETTER 

We  have  a  God  who  is  infinitely  gracious  and  knows 
all  our  wants.  I  always  thought  that  He  would  reduce 
you  to  extremity.  He  will  come  in  His  own  time,  and 
when  you  least  expect  it.  Hope  in  Him  more  than 
ever ;  thank  Him  with  me  for  the  favors  He  does  you, 
particularly  for  the  fortitude  and  patience  which  He 
gives  you  in  your  afflictions.  It  is  a  plain  mark  of  the 
care  He  takes  of  you.  Comfort  yourself,  then,  with 
Him,  and  give  thanks  for  all. 

I  admire  also  the  fortitude  and  bravery  of  Mr. . 

God  has  given  him  a  good  disposition  and  a  good  will ; 
but  there  is  in  him  still  a  little  of  the  world  and  a  great 
deal  of  youth.  I  hope  the  affliction  which  God  has  sent 
him  will  prove  a  wholesome  remedy  to  him,  and  make 
him  enter  into  himself.  It  is  an  accident  which  should 
engage  him  to  put  all  his  trust  in  Ilim  who  accompanies 
him  everywhere.   Let  him  think  of  Him  as  often  as  he 


2d 


LETTERS 


\ 


can,  especially  in  the  greatest  dangers.  A  little  lifting 
up  of  the  heart  suffices.  A  little  remembrance  of  God, 
one  act  of  inward  worship,  though  upon  a  march,  and 
a  sword  in  hand,  are  prayers,  which,  however  short,  are 
nevertheless  very  acceptable  to  God  ;  and  far  from  les- 
sening a  soldier's  courage  in  occasions  of  danger,  they 
best  serve  to  fortify  it. 

Let  him  then  think  of  God  the  most  he  can.  Let 
him  accustom  himself,  by  degrees,  to  this  small  but  holy 
exercise.  No  one  will  notice  it,  and  nothing  is  easier 
than  to  repeat  often  in  the  day  these  little  internal 
adorations.  Recommend  to  him,  if  you  please,  that 
he  think  of  God  the  most  he  can,  in  the  manner  here 
directed.  It  is  very  fit  and  most  necessary  for  a  soldier^ 
who  is  daily  exposed  to  the  dangers  of  life.  I  hope 
that  God  will  assist  him  and  all  the  family,  to  whom  I 

present  my  service,  being  theirs  and 

Yours,  etc. 

FOURTH   LETTER 

I  have  taken  this  opportunity  to  communicate  t^ 
you  the  sentiments  of  one  of  our  society,  concerning 
the  admirable  effects  and  continual  assistances  which 
he  receives  from  the  presence  of  Gon.  Let  you  and  me 
both  profit  by  them. 

You  must  know  his  continual  care  has  been,  for 
about  forty  years  past  that  he  has  spent  in  religion,  to 
be  always  with  God,  and  to  do  nothing,  say  nothing, 
and  think  nothing  which  may  displease  Him,  and  this 
without  any  other  view  than  purely  for  the  love  of  Him, 
and  because  He  deserves  infinitely  more. 

He  is  now  so  accustomed  to  that  divine  presence  that 
he  receives  from  it  continual  succors  upon  all  occa> 


LETTERS 


29 


sions.  For  about  thirty  years  his  soul  has  been  filled 
with  joys  so  continual,  and  sometimes  so  great,  that  he 
is  forced  to  use  means  to  moderate  them,  and  to  hin- 
der their  appearing  outwardly. 

If  sometimes  he  is  a  little  too  much  absent  from  that 
divine  presence,  God  presently  makes  Himself  to  be 
felt  in  his  soul  to  recall  him,  which  often  happens 
when  he  is  most  engaged  in  his  outward  business.  He 
answers  with  exact  fidelity  to  these  inward  drawings, 
either  by  an  elevation  of  his  heart  toward  God,  or  by 
a  meek  and  fond  regard  to  Him ;  or  by  such  words  as 
love  forms  upon  these  occasions,  as,  for  instance.  My 
God,  here  I  am  all  devoted  to  Thee.  Lord,  make  me  ac- 
cording to  Thy  heart.  And  then  it  seems  to  him  (as  in 
effect  he  feels  it)  that  this  God  of  love,  satisfied  with 
such  few  words,  reposes  again,  and  rests  in  the  fund 
and  center  of  his  soul.  The  experience  of  these  thmgs 
gives  him  such  an  assurance  that  God  is  always  in  the 
fund  or  bottom  of  his  soul  that  it  renders  him  incapable 
of  doubting  it  upon  any  account  whatever. 

Judge  by  this  what  content  and  satisfaction  he  enjoys 
while  he  continually  finds  in  himself  so  great  a  treasure. 
He  is  no  longer  in  an  anxious  search  after  it,  but  has 
it  open  before  him,  and  may  take  what  he  pleases  of  it. 

He  complains  much  of  our  blindness,  and  cries  often 
that  we  are  to  be  pitied  who  content  ourselves  with  so 
little.  God,  saith  he,  has  infinite  treasure  to  bestow,  and 
we  take  up  with  a  little  sensible  devotion,  which  passes  in 
a  moment.  Blind  as  we  are,  we  hinder  God  and  stop 
the  current  of  His  graces.  But  when  He  finds  a  soul 
penetrated  with  a  lively  faith.  He  pours  into  it  His  graces 
and  favors  plentifully;  there  they  flow  like  a  torrent 


80 


LETTERS 


whichf  after  being  forcibly  stopped  against  its  ordinary 
course y  when  it  has  found  a  passage,  spreads  itself  with 
impetuosity  and  abundance.  ^ 

Yes,  we  often  stop  this  torrent  by  the  little  value  we 
set  upon  it.  But  let  us  stop  it  no  more ;  let  us  enter 
into  ourselves  and  break  down  the  bank  which  hinders 
it.  Let  us  make  way  for  grace ;  let  us  redeem  the  lost 
time,  for  perhaps  we  have  but  Uttle  left.  Death  fol- 
lows us  close ;  let  us  be  well  prepared  for  it ;  for  we 
die  but  once,  and  a  miscarriage  there  is  irretrievable. 

I  say  again,  let  us  enter  into  ourselves.  The  time 
presses,  there  is  no  room  for  delay ;  our  souls  are  at 
stake.  I  believe  you  have  taken  such  effectual  mea- 
sures that  you  will  not  be  surprised.  I  commend  you 
for  it ;  it  is  the  one  thing  necessary.  We  must,  never- 
theless, always  work  at  it,  because  not  to  advance  in 
the  spiritual  life  is  to  go  back.  But  those  who  have 
the  gale  of  the  Holy  Spirit  go  forward  even  in  sleep. 
If  the  vessel  of  our  soul  is  still  tossed  with  winds  and 
storms,  let  us  awake  the  Lord,  who  reposes  in  it,  and 
He  will  quickly  calm  the  sea. 

I  have  taken  the  Hberty  to  impart  to  you  these  good 
sentiments,  that  you  may  compare  them  with  your  own. 
It  will  serve  again  to  kindle  and  inflame  them,  if  by 
misfortune  (which  God  forbid,  for  it  would  be  indeed  a 
great  misfortune)  they  should  be,  though  never  so  little, 
cooled.  Let  us  then  both  recall  our  first  fervors.  Let 
us  profit  by  the  example  and  the  sentiments  of  this 
brother,  who  is  little  known  of  the  world,  but  known  of 
God,  and  extremely  caressed  by  Him.  I  will  pray  for 
you ;  do  you  pray  instantly  for  me,  who  am,  in  our  Lord, 

Yours,  etc. 


LETTERS 


FIFTH   LETTER 


«' 


\  * 


■■♦':!' 


I  received  this  day  two  books  and  a  letter  from 

'    Sister ,  who  is  preparing  to  make  her  profession, 

and  upon  that  account  desires  the  prayers  of  your  holy 
society,  and  yours  in  particular.  I  perceive  that  she 
reckons  much  upon  them ;  pray  do  not  disappoint  her. 
Beg  of  God  that  she  may  make  her  sacrifice  in  the  view 
of  His  love  alone,  and  with  a  firm  resolution  to  be 
wholly  devoted  to  Him.  I  will  send  you  one  of  these 
'  books,  which  treat  of  the  presence  of  God,  a  subject 
which,  in  my  opinion,  contains  the  whole  spiritual  life ; 
and  it  seems  to  me  that  whoever  duly  practises  it  will 
soon  become  spiritual. 

I  know  that  for  the  right  practice  of  it  the  heart  must 
be  empty  of  all  other  things,  because  God  will  possess 
the  heart  alone;  and  as  He  cannot  possess  it  alone 
without  emptying  it  of  all  besides,  so  neither  can  He 
act  there^  and  do  in  it  what  He  pleases,  unless  it  be  left 
vacant  to  Him. 

There  is  not  in  the  world  a  kind  of  life  more  sweet 
and  delightful  than  that  of  a  continual  conversation 
with  God.  Those  only  can  comprehend  it  who  prac- 
tise and  experience  it ;  yet  I  do  not  advise  you  to  do 
it  from  that  motive.  It  is  not  pleasure  which  we 
ought  to  seek  in  this  exercise ;  but  let  us  do  it  from  a 
principle  of  love,  and  because  God  would  have  us. 

Were  I  a  preacher,  I  should,  above  all  other  things, 
preach  the  practice  of  the  presence  of  God  ;  and  were 
I  a  director,  I  should  advise  all  the  world  to  do  it,  so 
necessary  do  I  think  it,  and  so  easy,  too. 

Ah  I  knew  we  but  the  want  we  have  of  the  grace  and 


32 


LETTERS 


assistance  ^f  God,  we  should  never  lose  sight  of  Him 
— no,  not  for  a  moment.  Believe  me ;  make  immedi- 
ately a  holy  and  firm  resolution  nevermore  wilfully  to 
forget  Him,  and  to  spend  the  rest  of  your  days  in  His 
sacred  presence,  deprived,  for  the  love  of  Him,  if  He 
thinks  fit,  of  all  consolations. 

Set  heartily  about  this  work,  and  if  you  do  it  as  you 
ought,  be  assured  that  you  will  soon  find  the  effects  of 
it.  I  will  assist  you  with  my  prayers,  poor  as  they  are. 
I  recommend  myself  earnestly  to  yours  and  those  of 
your  holy  society,  being  theirs,  and  more  particularly 

Yours,  etc. 


SIXTH    LETTER 

{To  the  Same) 

I  have  received  from  Mrs. the  things  which  you 

gave  her  for  me.  I  wonder  that  you  have  not  given 
me  your  thoughts  of  the  little  book  I  sent  to  you,  and 
which  you  must  have  received.  Pray  set  heartily  about 
the  practice  of  it  in  your  old  age ;  it  is  better  late  than 
never. 

I  cannot  imagine  how  religious  persons  can  live  sat- 
isfied without  the  practice  of  the  presence  of  God.  For 
my  part,  I  keep  myself  retired  with  Him  in  the  fund 
or  center  of  my  soul  as  much  as  I  can ;  and  while  I  am 
so  with  Him  I  fear  nothing,  but  the  least  turning  from 
Him  is  insupportable. 

This  exercise  does  not  much  fatigue  the  body ;  it  is, 
however,  proper  to  deprive  it  sometimes,  nay,  often,  of 
many  little  pleasures  which  are  innocent  and  lawful,  for 
God  will  not  permit  that  a  soul  which  desires  to  be  de- 


LETTERS  (H 

voted  entirely  to  Him  should  take  other  pleasures  than 
with  Him :  that  is  more  than  reasonable. 

I  do  not  say  that  therefore  we  must  put  any  violent 
constraint  upon  ourselves.  No,  we  must  serve  God 
in  a  holy  freedom ;  we  must  do  our  business  faithfully, 
without  trouble  or  disquiet,  recalling  our  mind  to  God 
mildly,  and  with  tranquillity,  as  often  as  we  find  it  wan- 
dering from  Him. 

It  is,  however,  necessary  to  put  our  whole  trust  in 
God,  laying  aside  all  other  cares,  and  even  some  par- 
ticular forms  of  devotion,  though  very  good  in  them- 
selves, yet  such  as  one  often  engages  in  unreasonably, 
because  these  devotions  are  only  means  to  attain  to  the 
end.  So  when  by  this  exercise  of  the  presence  of  God 
we  are  with  Him  who  is  our  end,  it  is  then  useless  to 
return  to  the  means ;  but  we  may  continue  with  Him 
our  commerce  of  love,  persevering  in  His  holy  pres- 
ence, one  while  by  an  act  of  praise,  of  adoration,  or  of 
desire ;  one  while  by  an  act  of  resignation  or  thanksgiv- 
ing ;  and  in  all  the  ways  which  our  spirit  can  invent. 

Be  not  discouraged  by  the  repugnance  which  you  may 
find  in  it  from  nature ;  you  must  do  yourself  violence* 
At  the  first  one  often  thinks  it  lost  time,  but  you  must 
go  on,  and  resolve  to  persevere  in  it  to  death,  notwith- 
standing all  the  difficulties  that  may  occur.  I  recom- 
mend myself  to  the  prayers  of  your  holy  society,  and 
yours  in  particular*     I  am,  in  our  Lord, 

Yours,  etc. 

SEVENTH  LETTER 


I  pity  you  much.     It  will  be  of  great  importance  if 
you  can  leave  the  care  of  your  affairs  to ,  and 


K 


LETTERS 


spend  the  remainder  of  your  life  only  in  worshiping 
God.  He  requires  no  great  matters  of  us :  a  little  re- 
membrance of  Him  from  time  to  time ;  a  little  adora- 
tion ;  sometimes  to  pray  for  His  grace,  sometimes  to 
offer  Him  your  sufferings,  and  sometimes  to  return 
Him  thanks  for  the  favors  He  has  given  you,  and  still 
gives  you,  in  the  midst  of  your  troubles,  and  to  con- 
sole yourself  with  Him  the  oftenest  you  can.  Lift  up 
your  heart  to  Him,  sometimes  even  at  your  meals,  and 
when  you  are  in  company ;  the  least  little  remembrance 
will  always  be  acceptable  to  Him.  You  need  not  cry 
very  loud ;  He  is  nearer  to  us  than  we  are  aware  of. 

It  is  not  necessary  for  being  with  God  to  be  always 
at  church.  We  may  make  an  oratory  of  oiu:  heart 
wherein  to  retire  from  time  to  time  to  converse  with 
Him  in  meekness,  humility,  and  love.  Every  one  is 
capable  of  such  familiar  conversation  with  God,  some 
more,  some  less.  He  knows  what  we  can  do.  Let  us 
begin,  then.  Perhaps  He  expects  but  one  generous 
resolution  on  our  part.  Have  courage.  We  have  but 
little  time  to  live ;  you  are  near  sixty-four,  and  I  am 
almost  eighty.  Let  us  live  and  die  with  God.  Suffer- 
ings will  be  sweet  and  pleasant  to  us  while  we  are  with 
Him ;  and  the  greatest  pleasures  will  be,  without  Him, 
a  cruel  punishment  to  us.  May  He  be  blessed  for  all. 
Amen. 

Accustom  yourself,  then,  by  degrees  thus  to  worship 
Him,  to  beg  His  grace,  to  offer  Him  your  heart  from 
time  to  time  in  the  midst  of  your  business,  even  every 
moment,  if  you  can.  Do  not  always  scrupulously  con- 
fine yourself  to  certain  rules,  or  particular  forms  of  de- 
votion, but  act  with  a  general  confidence  in  God,  with 


^. 


LETTERS 


love  ana  humility.    You  may  assure of  my  poor 

prayers,  and  thai^  I  am  their  servant,  and  particularly 

Yours  in  our  Lord,  etc. 


EIGHTH   LETTER 


{Concerning  Wandering  TTioughis  in  I^ayer) 

You  tell  me  nothing  new ;  you  are  not  the  only  one 
that  is  troubled  with  wandering  thoughts.  Our  mind  is 
extremely  roving ;  but,  as  the  will  is  mistress  of  all  our 
faculties,  she  must  recall  them,  and  carry  them  to  God 
as  their  last  end. 

When  the  mind,  for  want  of  being  sufficiently  re- 
duced by  recollection  at  our  first  engaging  in  devotion, 
has  contracted  certain  bad  habits  of  wandering  and  dis- 
sipation, they  are  difficult  to  overcome,  and  commonly 
draw  us,  even  against  our  wills,  to  the  things  of  the 
earth. 

I  believe  one  remedy  for  this  is  to  confess  our  faults 
and  to  humble  ourselves  before  God.  I  do  not  advise 
you  to  use  multiplicity  of  words  in  prayer,  many  words 
and  long  discourses  being  often  the  occasions  of  wan- 
dering. Hold  yourself  in  prayer  before  God  like  a 
dumb  or  paralytic  beggar  at  a  rich  man's  gate.  Let  it 
be  your  business  to  keep  your  mind  in  the  presence  of 
the  Lord.  If  it  sometimes  wander  and  withdraw  itself 
from  Him,  do  not  much  disquiet  yourself  for  that: 
trouble  and  disquiet  serve  rather  to  distract  the  mind 
than  to  recollect  it ;  the  will  must  bring  it  back  in  tran- 
quillity. If  you  persevere  in  this  manner,  God  will 
have  pity  on  tou. 

One  way  to  recollect  the  mind  easily  in  the  time  of 


10 


LETTERS 


prayer,  and  preserve  it  more  in  tranquillity,  is  not  to 
let  it  wander  too  far  at  other  times.  You  should  keep  it 
strictly  \\\  the  presence  of  God  ;  and  being  accustomed 
to  think  of  Him  often,  you  will  find  it  easy  to  keep 
your  mind  calm  in  the  time  of  prayer,  or  at  least  to  re- 
call it  from  Its  wanderings. 

I  have  told  you  already  at  large,  in  my  former  let- 
ters, of  the  advantages  we  may  draw  from  this  practice 
of  the  presence  of  God.  Let  us  set  about  it  seriously, 
and  pray  for  one  another. 

Yours,  etc. 


NINTH   LETTER 

The  inclosed  is  an  answer  to  that  which  I  received 

from ;  pray  deliver  it  to  her.     She  seems  to  me 

full  of  good  will,  but  she  would  go  faster  than  grace. 
One  does  not  become  holy  all  at  onue.  I  recommend 
her  to  you ;  we  ought  to  help  one  another  by  our  ad- 
vice, and  yet  more  by  our  good  examples.  You  will 
oblige  me  to  let  me  hear  of  her  from  time  to  time,  and 
whether  she  be  very  fervent  and  very  obedient. 

Let  us  thus  think  often  that  our  only  business  in  this 
life  is  to  please  God,  and  that  all  besides  is  but  folly 
and  vanity.  You  and  I  have  lived  about  forty  years 
in  religior  (i.e.,  a  monastic  life).  Have  we  employed 
them  in  loving  and  serving  God,  who  by  His  mercy 
has  called  u '  to  this  state,  and  for  that  very  end  ?  I 
am  filled  with  shame  and  confusion  when  I  reflect,  on 
one  hand,  upon  the  great  favors  which  God  has  done, 
and  incessantly  continues  to  do  me ;  and  on  the  other, 
upon  the  ill  use  I  have  made  of  them,  and  my  small 
advancement  in  the  way  of  perfection. 


LETTERS 


87 


Since  by  His  mercy  He  gives  us  still  a  little  time,  let 
us  begin  in  earnest ;  let  us  repair  the  lost  time ;  let  us 
return  with  a  full  assurance  to  that  Father  of  mercies, 
who  is  always  ready  to  receive  us  affectionately.  Let 
us  renounce,  let  us  generously  renounce,  for  the  love 
of  Him,  all  that  is  not  Himself ;  He  deserves  infiniteiy 
more.  Let  us  think  of  Him  perpetually.  Let  us  put 
all  our  trust  in  Him.  I  doubt  not  but  we  shall  soon 
find  the  effects  of  it  in  receiving  the  abundance  of  His 
grace,  with  which  we  can  do  all  things,  and  without 
which  we  can  do  nothing  but  sin. 

We  cannot  escape  the  dangers  which  abound  in  life 
without  the  actual  and  continual  help  of  God.  Let  us, 
then,  pray  to  Him  for  it  continually.  How  can  we  pray 
to  Him  without  being  with  Him?  How  can  we  be  with 
Him  but  in  thinking  of  Him  often?  And  how  can  we 
often  think  of  Him  but  by  a  holy  habit  which  we  should 
form  of  it  ?  You  will  tell  me  that  I  am  always  saying 
the  same  thing.  It  is  true,  for  this  is  the  best  and  easi- 
est method  I  know;  and  as  I  use  no  other,  I  advise 
all  the  world  to  do  it.  We  must  know  before  we  can 
love.  In  order  to  know  God,  we  must  often  think  of 
Him;  and  when  we  come  to  love  Him,  we  shall  then 
also  think  of  Him  often,  for  our  heart  will  be  with  our 
treasure.     This  is  an  argument  which  well  deserves 

your  consideration. 

I  am, 

Yours,  etc. 

TENTH   LETTER 


I  have  had  a  good  deal  of  difficulty  to  bring  myself 
to  write  to  Mr. ,  and  I  do  it  now  purely  because 


t» 


LETTERS 


you  and  Madam desire  me.    Pray  write  the  direc« 

tions  and  send  it  to  him.  I  am  very  well  pleased  with 
the  trust  which  you  have  in  God  ;  I  wish  that  He  may 
increase  it  in  you  more  and  more.  We  cannot  have  too 
much  in  so  good  and  faithful  a  Friend,  who  will  never 
fail  us  in  this  world  nor  in  the  next. 

If  Mr. makes  his  advantage  of  the  loss  he  has 

had,  and  puts  all  his  confidence  in  God,  He  will  soon 
give  him  another  friend,  more  powerful  and  more  in« 
clined  to  serve  him.     He  disposes  of  hearts  as  He 

pleases.     Perhaps  Mr. was  too  much  attached 

to  him  he  has  lost.  We  ought  to  love  our  friends,  but 
without  encroaching  upon  the  love  due  to  God,  which 
must  be  the  principal. 

Pray  remember  what  I  have  recommended  to  you, 
which  is,  to  think  often  on  God,  by  day,  by  night,  in 
your  business,  and  even  in  your  diversions.  He  is  al- 
ways near  you  and  with  you ;  leave  Him  not  alone. 
You  would  think  it  rude  to  leave  a  friend  alone  who 
came  to  visit  you ;  why,  then,  must  God  be  neglected  ? 
Do  not,  then,  forget  Him,  but  think  on  Him  often, 
adore  Him  continually,  hve  and  die  with  Him ;  this  is 
the  glorious  employment  of  a  Christian.  In  a  word, 
this  is  our  profession ;  if  we  do  not  know  it,  we  must 
learn  it.     I  will  endeavor  to  help  you  with  my  prayers, 

and  am,  in  our  Lord, 

Yours,  etc. 


ELEVENTH    LETTER 


I  do  not  pray  that  you  may  be  delivered  from  your 
pains,  but  I  pray  God  earnestly  that  He  would  give 
you  strength  and  patience  to  bear  them  as  long  as  He 


LETTERS 


39 


pleases.  Comfort  yourself  with  Him  who  holds  you 
fastened  to  the  cross.  He  will  loose  you  when  He 
thinks  fit.  Happy  those  who  suffer  with  Him.  Accus- 
tom yourself  to  suffer  in  that  manner,  and  seek  from 
Him  the  strength  to  endure  as  much,  and  as  long,  as 
He  shall  judge  to  be  necessary  for  you.  The  men  of 
the  world  do  not  comprehend  these  truths,  nor  is  it  to 
be  wondered  at,  since  they  suffer  like  what  they  are,  and 
not  like  Christians.  They  consider  sickness  as  a  pain 
to  nature,  and  not  as  a  favor  from  God  ;  and  seeing  it 
only  in  that  light,  they  find  nothing  in  it  but  grief  and 
distress.  But  those  who  consider  sickness  as  coming 
from  the  hand  of  God,  as  the  effect  of  His  mercy,  and 
the  means  which  He  employs  for  their  salvation — such 
commonly  find  in  it  great  sweetness  and  sensible  con- 
solation. 

I  wish  you  could  convince  yourself  that  God  is 
often  (in  some  sense)  nearer  to  us,  and  more  effectually 
present  with  us,  in  sickness  than  in  health.  Rely  upon 
no  other  physician ;  for,  according  to  my  apprehension, 
He  reserves  your  cure  to  Himself.  Put,  then,  all  your 
trust  in  Him,  and  you  will  soon  find  the  effects  of  it  in 
your  recovery,  which  we  often  retard  by  putting  greater 
confidence  in  physic  than  in  God. 

Whatever  remedies  you  make  use  of,  they  will  suc- 
ceed only  so  far  as  He  permits.  When  pains  come 
from  God,  He  only  can  cure  them.  He  often  sends 
diseases  of  the  body  to  cure  those  of  the  soul.  Com- 
fort yourself  with  the  sovereign  Physician  both  of  the 
soul  and  body. 

Be  satisfied  with  the  condition  in  which  God  places 
you;  however  happy  you  may  think  me,  I  envy  you. 


f 


40  '  LETTERS 

Pains  and  sufferings  would  be  a  paradise  to  me  while  I 
should  suffer  with  my  God,  and  the  greatest  pleasures 
would  be  hell  to  me  if  I  could  rehsh  them  without 
Him.  All  my  consolation  would  be  to  suffer  something 
for  His  sake. 

> 

I  must,  in  a  little  time,  go  to  God.  What  comforts 
me  in  this  life  is  that  I  now  see  Him  hy  faiths  and  I 
see  Him  in  such  a  manner  as  might  make  me  say 
sometimes,  /  believe  no  more,  but  I  see.  I  feel  what 
faith  teaciies  us,  and  in  that  assurance  and  that  prac- 
tice of  faith  I  will  live  and  die  with  Him. 

Continue,  then,  always  with  God  ;  it  is  the  only  sup- 
port and  comfort  for  your  affliction.  I  shall  beseech 
Him  to  be  with  you.     I  present  my  service. 

Yours,  etc. 

TWELFTH   LETTER 

If  we  were  well  accustomed  to  the  exercise  of  the 
presence  of  God,  all  bodily  diseases  would  be  much  al- 
leviated thereby.  God  often  permits  that  we  should 
suffer  a  little  to  pmify  our  souls  and  oblige  us  to  con- 
tinue with  Him. 

Take  courage;  offer  Him  your  pains  incessantly; 
pray  to  Him  for  strength  to  endure  them.  Above  all, 
get  a  habit  of  entertaining  yourself  often  with  God,  and 
forget  Him  the  least  you  can.  Adore  Him  in  your  in- 
firmities, offer  yourself  to  Him  from  time  to  time,  and 
in  the  height  of  your  sufferings  beseech  Him  humbly 
and  affectionately  (as  a  child  his  father)  to  make  you 
conformable  to  His  holy  will.  I  shall  endeavor  to  as- 
sist you  with  my  poor  prayers. 

God  has  many  ways  of  drawing  us  to  Himself.    He 


LETTERS  '  H 

sometimes  hides  Himself  from  us ;  hvX  faith  alone,  which 
will  not  fail  us  in  time  of  need,  ought  to  be  our  sup- 
port, and  the  foimdation  of  our  confidence,  which  must 
be  all  in  God. 

I  know  not  how  God  will  dispose  of  me.  I  am  al- 
ways happy.  All  the  world  suffer ;  and  I,  who  deserve 
the  severest  discipline,  feel  joys  so  continual  and  so 
great  that  I  can  scarce  contain  them. 

I  would  willingly  ask  of  God  a  part  of  your  suffer- 
ings, but  that  I  know  my  weakness,  which  is  so  great 
that  if  He  left  me  one  moment  to  myself  I  should  be 
the  most  wretched  man  alive.  And  yet  I  know  not 
how  He  can  leave  me  alone,  because  faith  gives  me  as 
strong  a  conviction  as  sense  can  do  that  He  never  for- 
sakes us  until  we  have  first  forsaken  Him.  Let  us  fear 
to  leave  Him.  Let  us  be  always  with  Him.  Let  us 
live  and  die  in  His  presence.     Do  you  pray  for  me  as 

I  for  you. 

I  am. 

Yours,  etc. 

THIRTEENTH   LETTER 

[To  the  Same) 

I  am  in  pain  to  see  you  suffer  so  long.  What  gives 
me  some  ease  and  sweetens  the  feelings  I  have  for  your 
griefs  is  that  they  are  proofs  of  God's  love  toward 
you.  See  them  in  that  view  and  you  will  bear  them 
more  e^jily.  As  your  case  is,  it  is  my  opinion  that  you 
should  leave  off  human  remedies,  and  resign  yourself 
entirely  to  the  piovidence  of  God.  Perhaps  He  stays 
only  for  that  resignation  and  a  perfect  trust  in  Him  to 
cure  you.    Since,  notwithstanding  all  your  cares,  physic 


42  LETTERS 

has  hitherto  proved  unsuccessful,  and  your  malady  still 
increases,  it  will  not  be  tempting  God  to  abandon 
yourself  in  His  hands  and  expect  all  from  Him. 

I  told  you  in  my  last  that  He  sometimes  permits 
bodily  diseases  to  cure  the  distempers  of  the  soul. 
Have  courage,  then ;  make  a  virtue  of  necessity.  Ask 
of  God,  not  deliverance  from  your  pains,  but  strength 
to  bear  resolutely,  for  the  love  of  Him,  all  that  He 
should  please,  and  as  long  as  He  shall  please. 

Such  prayers,  indeed,  are  a  little  hard  to  nature,  but 
most  acceptable  to  God,  and  sweet  to  those  that  love 
Him.  Love  sweetens  pains ;  and  when  one  loves  God, 
one  suffers  for  His  sake  with  joy  and  courage.  Do 
you  so,  I  beseech  you ;  comfort  yourself  with  Him,  who 
is  the  only  Physician  of  all  our  maladies.  He  is  the 
Father  of  the  afflicted,  always  ready  to  help  us.  He 
loves  us  infinitely,  more  than  we  imagine.  Love  Him, 
then,  and  seek  no  consolation  elsewhere.  I  hope  you 
will  soon  receive  it.  Adieu.  I  will  help  you  with  my 
prayers,  poor  as  they  are,  and  shall  always  be,  in  our 
Lord, 

Yours,  etc. 

FOURTEENTH   LETTER 

{To  the  Same) 

I  render  thanks  to  our  Lord  for  having  relieved 
you  a  little,  according  to  your  desire.  I  have  been 
often  near  expiring,  but  I  never  was  so  much  satisfied 
as  then.  Accordingly,  I  did  not  pray  for  any  relief, 
but  I  prayed  for  strength  to  suffer  with  courage,  humil- 
ity, and  love.  Ah,  how  sweet  it  is  to  suffer  with  God! 
However  great  the  sufferings  may  be,  receive  them 


LETTERS  43 

with  love.  It  is  paradise  to  suffer  and  be  with  Him ; 
so  that  if  in  this  life  we  would  enjoy  the  peace  of  para- 
dise we  must  accustom  ourselves  to  a  familiar,  humble, 
affectionate  conversation  with  Him.  We  must  hinder 
our  spirits'  wandering  from  Him  upon  any  occasion. 
We  must  make  our  heart  a  spiritual  temple,  wherein 
to  adore  Him  incessantly.  We  must  watch  continually 
over  ourselves,  that  we  may  not  do  nor  say  nor  think 
anything  that  may  displease  Him.  When  our  minds 
are  thus  employed  about  God,  suffering  will  become 
full  of  unction  and  consolation. 

I  know  that  to  arrive  at  this  state  the  beginning  is  very 
difficult,  for  we  must  act  purely  in  faith.  But  though  it 
is  difficult,  we  know  also  that  we  can  do  all  things  with 
the  grace  of  God,  which  He  never  refuses  to  them  who 
ask  it  earnestly.  Knock,  persevere  in  knocking,  and  I 
answer  for  it  that  He  will  open  to  you  in  His  due  time, 
and  grant  you  all  at  once  what  He  has  deferred  during 
,  many  years.  Adieu.  Pray  to  Him  for  me  as  I  pray 
to  Him  for  you.     I  hope  to  see  Him  quickly. 

I  am, 

Yours,  etc. 

FIFTEENTH    LETTER 

(To  the  Same) 

God  knoweth  best  what  is  needful  for  us,  and  all  that 
He  does  is  for  our  good.  If  we  knew  how  much  He 
loves  us,  we  should  always  be  ready  to  receive  equally 
and  with  indifference  from  His  hand  the  sweet  and  the 
bitter.  All  would  please  that  came  from  Him.  The 
sorest  afflictions  never  appear  intolerable,  except  when 
we  see  them  in  the  wrong  light.    When  we  see  them 


44  LETTERS 

as  dispensed  by  the  hand  of  God,  when  we  know  that 
it  is  our  loving  Father  who  abases  and  distresses  us, 
our  sufferings  will  lose  their  bitterness  and  become 
even  matter  of  consolation. 

Let  all  our  employment  be  to  know  God  ;  the  more 
one  knows  Him,  the  more  one  desires  to  know  Him. 
And  as  knowledge  is  commonly  the  measure  of  love,  the 
deeper  and  more  extensive  our  knowledge  shall  be,  the 
greater  will  be  our  love;  and  if  our  love  of  God  were 
great,  we  should  love  Him  equally  in  pains  and  plea- 
sures. 

Let  us  not  content  omrselves  with  loving  God  for  the 
mere  sensible  favors,  how  elevated  soever,  which  He 
has  done  or  may  do  us.  Such  favors,  though  nevei 
so  great,  cannot  bring  us  so  near  to  Him  as  faith  doe?, 
in  one  simple  act.  Let  us  seek  Him  often  by  faith. 
He  is  within  us ;  seek  Him  not  elsewhere.  If  we  do 
love  Him  alone,  are  we  not  rude,  and  do  we  not  de- 
serve blame,  if  we  busy  ourselves  about  trifles  which 
do  not  please  and  perhaps  offend  Him?  It  is  to  bt 
feared  these  trifles  will  one  day  cost  us  dear. 

Let  us  begin  to  be  devoted  to  Him  in  good  earnest 
Let  us  cast  everything  besides  out  of  our  hearts.  He 
would  possess  them  alone.  Beg  this  favor  of  Him.  If 
've  do  what  we  can  on  our  parts,  we  shall  soon  see  that 
change  wrought  in  us  which  we  aspire  after.  I  cannot 
thank  Him  sufficiently  for  the  relaxation  He  has  vouch- 
safed you.  I  hope  from  His  mercy  the  favor  to  see 
Him  within  a  few  days.*   Let  us  pray  for  one  another. 

I  am,  in  oiu:  Lord, 
i  Yours,  etc. 

*  He  took  to  his  bed  two  days  after,  and  died  within  the  week. 


\   . 


■f 


I 


1  '? 


.: 


A  MiUion  and  a  Half  Sold  of  \ 

RALPH  CONNOR'S  WORKS 


The  Doctor.     ATaleoftheRocUes. 

ajjth  iAousand.     12mo,  •         -         •  l.sa 

••The best  thing  Ralph  Connor  has  done  since  'The 
Sky  Pilot'  and  pehaps  the  best  that  he  has  ever  done 

Here  he  is  -* ' '■ '  — -"  *— "  *-  " 

pictures  of 


Here  he  is  at  his  strongest  and  best  in  drawing  rugged 
of  rough  but  true  men."— AT.  Y.  Times  Revttw, 


The  Prospector,  a  Tale  of  the  Crow's  Nest  Pass. 
^SSth  Thousand.    12mo,  -  -  .  ijjo. 

*'A  novel  so  intense  that  one  grinds  his  teeth  less  his 
sinew  should  snap  ere  the  strain  is  released."— 
Chicago  Tribune. 

Gwen.     The  Canyon  story  from"  The  Sky  Pilot "  In 
Art  Gift  Book  Series,  beautifully  printed  in  two  colors 
tvith  many  illustrations  and  marginal  etchings. 
MSth  thousand.   12mo,  art  cover,      -         •      net  .70. 

Glengarry  School  Days.  Astoryofeariy 

days  in  Glengarry. 

h^h  thousand.  12mo,  Illustrated,  Cloth,  -  1.25, 
"Gets  a  swing  of  incident  and  danger  that  keep  you 
*«®,*'^',"^>V.ay  at  the  pages  till  the  book  is  done."— 
N,  Y.Mail. 

The  Man  from  Glengarry.  ATaieoi 

the  Ottawa.  2ioth  thousand.  12mo,  Cloth,  -  IJSO 
"A  legitimate  successor  to  'The  Sky  Pilot'  and  'Black 
Rock/  which  secured  him  swift  fame  that  leaps  to  the 
author  who  strikes  a  new  and  etfective  note."— 7V&« 
Uterary  Digest. 

The  Sky  Pilot.  ATaleoftheFootWlU.  lUui- 
trated  by  Louis  Rhead. 

310th  thousand.   12mo,  Cloth,  -         -         1.28. 

"Ralph  Connor's  'Black  Rock'  was  good, but  'The 
Skv  Pilot'  IS  better.  The  matter  which  he  gives  us  is 
real  life ;  virile,  true,  tender,  humorous,  pathetic,  ipiri- 
tual,  wholesome."— r/KO«//<w-fc. 

Black  Rock,  a  Taleof  the  Selkirks.  Introduction 
by  George  Adam  Smith.  Illustrated  by  Louis  Rhead. 
550th  thousand.    12mo,  Cloth,  -  -  1.26. 

"  Ralph  Connor  has  gone  into  the  heart  of  the  North- 
west Canadian  mountains  and  has  painted  for  us  a 
picture  of  life  in  the  lumber  and  mining-camps  of  sux^ 
passing  merit*"— .ST.  Louis  Glob*  Democrat. 


■r: : 


Th9  Work9of 

NORMAN  DUNCAN 


The  Adventares  of 
Billy  TopsaU 

j^tk  thousand.  12mo,  Illustrated,  -  1.50. 
It's  a  boy's  book,  but  it's  "a  book  to  be 
chummy  with" — that  includes  everybody. 
"A  marvelously  vivid  and  realistic  narrative. 
There  was  no  need  to  invent  conditions  or 
imagine  situations.  It  is  this  skill  in  por- 
traymg  actual  conditions  in  Newfoundland 
that  makes  Mr.  Duncan's  work  so  wonder- 
ful."—^r<7^>6/y»  Eagle, 

Doctor  Luke  of  the  Labrador 

30ik  thousand,    12mo,  Cloth,        •         1.50. 

**  Norman  Duncan  has  fulfilled  all  that  was 
expected  of  him  in  this  story ;  it  established 
him  beyond  question  as  one  of  the  strong  mas- 
ters of  tiie  present  dsiy.^'— Brooklyn  Eagle. 

Dr.  Grenfell's  Parish 

Fifth  Edition.  Illustrated,  Qoth,  net  1.00. 
•*  He  tells  vividly  and  picturesquely  many  of 
the  things  done  oy  Dr.  Grenfell  and  his  as^ 
sociates."— iVl  K  Sun, 

The  Mother 

A  Novelette  of  New  York  Ufc 
Second  Edition,  12mo,  Cloth,  •  1.25. 
de  Luxe,  -  -  .  •  •  net  2.00. 
•* Another  book  quite  unlike  'Dr.  Luke'  in 
environment,  but  very  like  it  in  its  intuitive 
understandings  of  the  natures  of  the  lowlv 
and  obscure  .  .  .  holds  the  reader  sytu.' 
\)o\iad,"—JVashville  American, 


